Sing, Unburied, Sing: A Haunting Exploration of Race, Trauma, and the Power of Storytelling

Sing, Unburied, Sing: A Novel

by Jesmyn Ward

4.4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1372 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	299 pages

FREE

Jesmyn Ward's Sing, Unburied, Sing is a novel that explores the complex and often painful intersections of race, trauma, and the enduring power of storytelling. Set in rural Mississippi, the novel follows the story of Jojo, a young boy haunted by the ghosts of his father and grandfather, and Leonie, his resilient mother, who fights to protect him from the violence and prejudice that surround them.

Ward's writing is both lyrical and unflinching, and she creates a rich and evocative world that is both beautiful and heartbreaking. The novel is full of vivid imagery and sensory detail, and Ward's use of language is both poetic and powerful. She captures the rhythms of Southern speech, and her prose is infused with the rhythms and cadences of the blues and gospel music that permeates the novel.

The novel's characters are complex and fully realized, and their stories are both heartbreaking and hopeful. Jojo, the young boy at the center of the novel, is a symbol of both the innocence and the vulnerability of children, and his journey is one of both survival and self-discovery.

Leonie, Jojo's mother, is a strong and determined woman who is fighting to protect her son from the violence and prejudice that surround them. She is a symbol of both the resilience and the strength of the human spirit.

The ghosts of Jojo's father and grandfather are also important characters in the novel. They represent the past that haunts the present, and their stories are intertwined with the stories of Jojo and Leonie. The novel explores the ways in which the past can shape the present, and the ways in which we can learn from the mistakes of our ancestors.

Sing, Unburied, Sing is a powerful and moving novel that explores the complex and often painful intersections of race, trauma, and the enduring power of storytelling. Ward's writing is both lyrical and unflinching, and she creates a rich and evocative world that is both beautiful and heartbreaking. The novel is a must-read for anyone who is interested in contemporary American literature, and it is sure to stay with you long after you finish reading it.

Themes

Sing, Unburied, Sing explores a number of important themes, including:

• Race: The novel is set in the American South, and it explores the ways in which race shapes the lives of the characters. The characters experience racism in both overt and subtle ways, and the novel shows how racism can damage both individuals and communities.
• Trauma: The novel also explores the effects of trauma on the characters. The characters have all experienced trauma in different ways, and the novel shows how trauma can affect their physical and mental health. The novel also shows how trauma can be passed down from generation to generation.
• Storytelling: The novel is itself a story, and it explores the power of storytelling. The characters use storytelling to cope with their experiences, and the novel shows how storytelling can be a way to heal and to connect with others.

Characters

Sing, Unburied, Sing features a number of complex and fully realized characters. The main characters include:

• Jojo: Jojo is a young boy who is haunted by the ghosts of his father and grandfather. He is a symbol of both the innocence and the vulnerability of children.
• Leonie: Leonie is Jojo's mother. She is a strong and determined woman who is fighting to protect her son from the violence and prejudice that surround them.
• Michael: Michael is Jojo's father. He is a ghost who haunts Jojo and Leonie. He was killed by the police when Jojo was a baby.
• Pop: Pop is Jojo's grandfather. He is a ghost who haunts Jojo and Leonie. He was killed by white supremacists when Jojo's father was a baby.

Setting

Sing, Unburied, Sing is set in rural Mississippi. The novel's setting is important because it shapes the characters' experiences and the ways in which they see the world. The novel explores the ways in which the South's history of racism and violence continues to affect the present day.

Style

Jesmyn Ward's writing is both lyrical and unflinching. She creates a rich and evocative world that is both beautiful and heartbreaking. The novel is full of vivid imagery and sensory detail, and Ward's use of language is both poetic and powerful. She captures the rhythms of Southern speech, and her prose is infused with the rhythms and cadences of the blues and gospel music that permeates the novel.

Reception

Sing, Unburied, Sing has been widely praised by critics. The novel won the 2017 National Book Award for Fiction, and it was also awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2018. The novel has been praised for its lyrical prose, its complex characters, and its unflinching exploration of race, trauma, and the power of storytelling.

Sing, Unburied, Sing is a powerful and moving novel that is sure to stay with you long after you finish reading it. It is a must-read for anyone who is interested in contemporary American literature.

Sing, Unburied, Sing: A Novel

by Jesmyn Ward

4.4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1372 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	299 pages

FREE